Abdominal and pelvic supporter.



B. P. SMALL. ABDOMINAL AND PELVIG SUPPOBTBB.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 3, 1909.

970,961 Patented Sept20,191o.v

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

, RAGAN, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

ABDOMINAL AND PELVIC SUPPORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

' To all whom t may concern:

japron.

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. SMALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Abdominal and Pelvic Supporter, of Which the following is a specification.

" This invention has relation to abdominal and pelvic supporters and it consists in thel `novel construction and arrangement of its parts as hereinafter shown and described.

The object of the invention is to provide a supporter of the character indicated which is adapted to be attached to a corset or hip form offemale personal Wear and when so applied Will etfectually support the pelvis and abdomen and adjacent parts. The supporter is especially designed to be used during and after the menstrual eriod and includes an apron `Which is held 1n position by perineal straps and which is provided With a longitudinally disposed slit. A second or vulvar apron may be applied to the first said apron and the said vulvar apron is providedwith a dam adapted to receive the lips of the vulva. In one form the said vulvar apron is provided With a sack which may be slipped through the slit in the first said apronand which may contain absorbent sponge or cotton. In another form the said vulvar apron is devoid of the sack above mentioned, but is provided With the dam and may be used to advantage as a pelvic support just after the cessation of the menstrual fiovv.

In the accompanying drawings z-Figure l is a perspective view of a hip form or Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the primary Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the vulvar apron having the sack. Fig. 4: is a transverse sectional view of the upper porl tion of the apron shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5

is a perspective view of the vulvar apron devoid of a sack.

As above stated the said pelvic and abdominal supporter is adapted to be applied to the corset or a hip form and in Fig. 1 it is shown applied to a hip form l, Which is provided at its sides With gores 2, preferably of flexible material and which are liniited in their expansive movement by the v straps or laeing secured to stays which form the bounds of said gores.

Perineal, straps are secured at their ends to t-he form l and a primary apron 5 is attached at its upper end to the lower `front ortiou of the form 1. The apron 5 is provided along its middle with a longitudinally disposed slit 6; A supplemental vulvar apron 7 is adapted to be applied to the inner side of the `EDWARD F. SMALL, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO WILLIS E.

apron 5 and is provided with securing devices 8 adapted to engage component members 9 mounted upon the said apron 5. The apron 7 is provided with a dam 10, which is approximately U shaped and gradually rises at its ends from the plane of the upper ortioii of the apron 7, and is of greatest height or thickness at its middle. Fn the form of apron 7 as illustrated in Fig. 3 the said apron is provided with an opening 11 located within the dam 10 and from which depends a liexible sack 12. In the form of apron 7 as illustrated in Fig. 5 the said apron is devoid of such opening 11, but is imperforate between the inner sides of the end portions of the dam 10. lVhen the apron 7 is provided with an opening 11 and a depending sack 12 the dam 10 u on one side of the said apron is duplicate( in the form of a dam 10 located upon the opposite side of said apron and juxtaposed With relation to the dam 10.

Throughout `.the structure the attac-hable and detachable parts are preferably held together by means of cast-off devices of common use as for instance glove fasteners.

lVhen the supporter is applied to the person of a wearer the perineal straps 4 will hold the apron 5 against the pelvis and the dam 10 of the apron 7 will receive the lips of the vagina. During the menstrual period the apron 7 having the sack 12 lis used and absorbent material is inserted iu the said sack, and the sack is projected through the slit 6 of the apron 5. Thus, during the flow the excretion is absorbed by the said material contained Within the sack 12 and the dam 10 prevents the exuding liquid from coming in contact With the clothing. After the cessation of the menstrual flow the apron 7 having the sack 12 is discarded and in its stead the apron as shown in Fig. 5 is used in which the dam 10 serves as a pelvic support and may be so employed to pei' petuate the iioruial anatomical conditions.

The advantage gained by providing the apron 7 which carries the sack 12 with dams 'l0 and l0 located upon its opposite sides is that' a reversible apron is effected and consequently when the apron is soiled upon one side the sack may be turned inside out and the absorbent material then inserted from the opposite side in the said apron 7, and thus the side of the sack 12 Which has been previously soiled and subsequently cleaned is subjected to the hygienic efectof the atmosphere, and, for all practical purposes, is

sterilized thereby.

Having described my invention, What I .claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l l. In an appliance as described, a primary apron anda vulvar apron having lan approximately U shaped dam detachably applied to the inner side thereof,

2. I n an appliance as described, a primary apron, and a vulvar apron detachably applied to the inner side thereof andA having a sack adapted to depend through the slit in the apron.

4. In an appliance as described, a slitted apron, and a vulvar apron detachably applied to the inner side thereof, and having dams upon its opposite sides and a depending reversible sack.

y5. In an appliance as described, a slitted apron, and a vulvar apron detachably applied to the inner side thereof and having an opening with approxiinatelyU shaped ydams located upon its opposite sides about said opening, and ya reversible sack depending' from the edges of the opening.

In testimony that I ,claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presen-ce of two Witnesses.

EDWARD F. SMALL.

" Witnesses:

J, J. HOBBY, IIT. T CLARKE. 

